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Welcome to this week's edition of the POB eNews ...
An ABC News Science & Technology article recently posed the question, Will GPS Make Us Dumb?
With international headlines like "Faith in GPS sends Mercedes downstream," "GPS causes accident in France," and "Man follows GPS straight into a train," it isn't a long stretch of the imagination to think that--for some people--maybe it already has. Retired Xerox executive Al Byrd, of Georgia, might agree.
Two weeks ago, Byrd received a phone call notifying him that his 1950s family home, built by his father, who is now deceased, had been torn down. This was a surprise to Byrd.
The man who maintained the yard at the house, which no one lived in, called Byrd late Monday, June 8, to deliver the unfortunate news. Byrd immediately jumped in his car and called the Sheriff's Department. When he pulled into his old neighborhood, all that remained of the home he grew up in was a pile of rubble and a load of excuses. "It's incredulous," the still-shocked Byrd told reporters.
When Byrd called to get answers the following morning, a representative of North Georgia Container told him they were hired by Southern Environmental Services to raze the house. According to the sheriff's report, Southern Environmental Services was hired by Austin-based Forestar Group. Southern Environmental Services told Byrd that the demolition crew was led by some paperwork and GPS coordinates to 11 Byrd Trail, which is named for his family. Yet no one ever contacted him before leveling the house.
Byrd suspects a substantially different house on the other side of railroad tracks was the intended target. He's hired a lawyer, but he hasn't mapped out what his next step will be.
As more people place their faith in GPS-based technology and put their critical thinking skills on cruise control, perhaps a more-appropriate abbreviation for GPS might be Great Potential for Stupidity.
Have a great week,
Wendy Lyons, eNews editor
P.S. See photos and read the story at ABC News or the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Sight Lines: Taking Risks by Kristi Grahl
| I'm at the Optech Innovative LiDAR Solutions Conference in Toronto, and I have to admit that I'm impressed with the turnout. Despite a serious recession, a global H1N1 flu pandemic and the near-simultaneous MAPPS 2009 Summer Conference, Optech's debut event has drawn nearly 170 attendees based on preliminary estimates. |
Technology Benchmark: Report from the Southeast by Harry Ward, PE
| Georgia is a tough market for firms that rely on land development. In some cases, companies that were 80 people deep last year are now at 40, and a rebound is not in sight. But as firms have cut back on their workforce, they have sought ways to increase productivity-largely through the improved use of existing equipment and software.
The Data Czar: Diagramming Your Processes by Darron Pustam, MBA, GISP
Once you have a thorough understanding of your user data needs, the next step is to begin mapping the major workflow process in your organization from beginning to end. To build efficient and timeless processes, data must flow smoothly from process to process and do so from a single source.
Do you have a viewpoint on a topic of interest that you would like to see discussed in Opinion? E-mail your column (approx. 300-700 words) to pobeditor@bnpmedia.com. Columns will be posted at the editor's discretion. Follow this
link for the latest blog entries.
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What is the best way to gain new business in a difficult economy?
- Increase marketing efforts
- Lower prices Partner with other firms
- Offer more value
- Use advanced technology to improve quality and capabilities
Take a moment to vote at
www.pobonline.com. |
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Web Exclusive: My Survey Truck
Check out the 11 My Survey Truck entries to see how your survey vehicle stacks up -- all in the interest of having some competitive fun, of course.
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 The 2008 Surveying & Mapping Industry Software and Equipment CLEAReports indicate fewer plans to purchase CAD and data collector software, data collector controllers, tripods, and robotic total stations in 2009.
Learn more about future purchase intentions, highly desired brands, and software/equipment trends by contacting Sima Patel at patels@clearseasresearch.com or 248.786.1626. |
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Bestseller: Business Management Handbook for Land Surveyors
by Daniel E. Beardslee, PLS
Check out this table of contents to see why it is a bestseller! Get your copy today!
- CHAPTER 1 For Those Just Starting Out or Thinking about It
- CHAPTER 2 For Those Who Have Been in Business for Years
- CHAPTER 3 General Advice for Everyone
- CHAPTER 4 The Gospel According to Dan
- CHAPTER 5 The Inverted Management Paradox
- CHAPTER 6 A Brief Introduction to Financial Statements and Their Use
- CHAPTER 7 Analyzing the Cost of Doing Business
- CHAPTER 8 Converting Costs to Rates
- CHAPTER 9 Making Estimates
- CHAPTER 10 The Perfect Non-Sequitor
- CHAPTER 11 Lowballing for Market Share
- CHAPTER 12 The Capital Purchase Decision
- CHAPTER 13 Price Positioning and Strategy
- CHAPTER 14 The Power of Income
- CHAPTER 15 Enhancing Your Business, Scattering Your Eggs, Having Fun, and Making a Little More Money
- CHAPTER 16 Elements of a Business Plan
- CHAPTER 17 Marketing Your Surveying Services
- CHAPTER 18 A Few Words About Personnel Management
- CHAPTER 19 What if I Train Them and ...
- CHAPTER 20 Contracts and Contracting
- CHAPTER 21 One Last Goofy Idea
Retail Price: $65.00 CLICK HERE to purchase. Visit AECstore.com
to view our all of our surveying resources and products! Call Stephanie at 248-244-1275 with any questions. |
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PARTY CHIEF IN MISSOURI OR KANSAS AREA
Land surveying firm seeking experienced Party Chief for immediate employment.
Extensive travel is required. Competitive salary, bonuses, 401k, medical, dental. Experience with Trimble Robotic and RTK required. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment required. Must be highly self-motivated.
Contact POB, deneaup@bnpmedia.com. Reference ad #2074. |
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Topcon, Sokkia Create New Survey Business Unit for Americas
Ray O'Connor, executive officer of Topcon Corporation and president and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS), announced the formation of a new business unit created to focus exclusively on the survey market.
Carlson Software Recycles Trade-Ins
Data collectors of all different makes, styles and vintage have been piling up at the Carlson Software distribution center here ever since the introduction of Carlson's popular new Surveyor and Surveyor+ data collectors last September.
NCEES Inks Funding Arrangement with National Museum of Surveying
The NCEES Board of Directors has agreed to provide funding for the National Museum of Surveying, which is planning to open this year in a new location in downtown Springfield, Illinois.
233 Years in the Making - First American develops First U.S. Cadastral System
This achievement will have a significant impact on both public and private sector endeavors that seek to use geographic information to improve the accuracy of a variety of products and services, as well as help businesses to increase their return on investment by reducing costs and increasing capabilities for location awareness.
Northrop Grumman Submits Proposal to Revolutionize Global Positioning System Operations
The Northrop Grumman proposal draws upon the team's decades of navigation experience, years of OCX risk reduction activities and a successful Phase A demonstration performance.
Spar Point Research Announces Plans for SPAR 2010
Spar Point Research, Danvers, Mass., has announced preliminary plans for SPAR 2010, its seventh annual conference on advanced dimensional control work processes and 3D laser scanning technologies for design, construction and manufacturing.
CLICK for more Industry News. |
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'Land ponzi scheme' in Jones County?
Leadercall.com
: The public in South Jones County, along Shiloh Church Road, between Albert McCullum Road and the South Miss. Electric Power Association transmission lines, and the surrounding areas, should be highly aware of an intricately contrived-property-taking scheme, that finds its origin in 1984, engineering by Plum Creek Timberlands, an international corporation, Collin's and Null Appraisal Group, Inc. of Hattiesburg and others, that is now coming into fruition.
Obituaries in the news: Tomoji Tanabe
The Associated Press: TOKYO (AP) - Tomoji Tanabe, the world's oldest man, has died in his sleep at his home in southern Japan, a city official said. He was 113.
Spruce Street residents in property dispute with group
Nashuatelegraph.com: MERRIMACK - When Cynthia Seneca and Guy Praria married 25 years ago, they received a hammock as a wedding gift.
COC land surveying program graduates first student
the-signal.com: As an engineering student at Ventura College, Joey Waltz didn't like the idea of working indoors. Fortunately, when a professor mentioned surveying as a career option during a civil engineering lecture, Waltz was paying attention.
To read the latest Surveying in the Headlines, click here. |
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 Joke of the Week: Top 10 Things You'll Never Hear a Dad Say
10. Well, how 'bout that? I'm lost! Looks like we'll have to stop and ask for directions.
9. You know Pumpkin, now that you're 13, you'll be ready for unchaperoned car dates. Won't that be fun? ...
Problem of the Week: Legal Description: Definitions
A description of land by the consecutive reference to courses and distances around its perimeter is called a:
A. bounds description
B. plat description
C. aliquot description
D. metes and bounds description
CLICK to access the rest of this week's Fun & Games. |
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